David Warner dropped from side after attack on Englishman Joe Root

DAVID Warner should be taking on England's Joe Root during the Ashes, not mounting what has been described as an unprovoked attack in a nightclub.

DAVID Warner should be taking on England's Joe Root during the Ashes, not mounting what has been described as an unprovoked attack in a night club.

One of Australia's most talented and erratic cricketers faces his second disciplinary hearing in three weeks after a physical altercation in the early hours of Sunday morning. The England and Wales Cricket Board last night confirmed that Warner "initiated an unprovoked physical attack on a member of the England team in a Birmingham bar following England's 48-run victory over Australia.

"Warner has admitted behaving inappropriately and has since apologised to the player involved, who has accepted the apology.

"Following a full investigation, the England team management has concluded that the England player was in no way responsible for, nor retaliated to, the attack."

MORE: Ex-Ashes winning skipper Michael Vaughn says David Warner must have a "screw loose"

Warner was stood down from last night's Champions Trophy match against New Zealand at Edgbaston - instead forced to carry the drinks - and is set to be suspended for the rest of the tournament. With Michael Clarke still out with a worrying back injury, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell replaced Warner.

It appears unlikely that Warner will be sent home despite the seriousness of his latest disciplinary breach.

This is Warner's second charge of bringing the game into disrepute in three weeks after he was fined $5750 for an expletive-laden Twitter rant.

Clearly Warner had been celebrating Australia's comprehensive loss to England on Saturday too hard.

He scored nine following a pair of ducks in Australia's two practice matches, coming off the back of a poor IPL with the Delhi Daredevils.

Given Warner's terrible form and Australia's poor performance in India and bad start to the Champions Trophy, it is remarkable that a key player who harbours leadership ambitions does not get the big picture.

He has what must surely be the biggest 12 months of his cricket career coming up with back-to-back Ashes series and a tour of South Africa.

Warner is not just a cricketer, he is an ambassador and a role model. He is representing his country every minute of every day.

If that responsibility is too great or too difficult he should hand back the millions he is making from the game and go and play in the park with his mates, where he can get on the turps every Saturday night and almost no one will care.

If Australia are to regain the Ashes, they desperately need Warner to stand up with some big performances.

That is simply not going to happen if he continues to hold his country, the game and his teammates in such low regard.

There is no doubt he has the ability given some of the performances we have seen in his short and at times spectacular career. At his best Warner is the most watchable player in the country. Right now he is a liability.

If he was a baseball player, Warner would be on two strikes. A third and he should be out of the team until the penny drops.

He has been reported under rule six which states that players and officials must not at any time engage in behaviour unbecoming to a representative player or official that could bring them or the game into disrepute or be harmful to the interests of cricket. CA will convene a code of conduct hearing this week in a telephone hook-up with a code of conduct commission in Australia.